Referred to in documents of July 2006 as "High School (West)," the property is named for its geographic region, located NW of Nokesville, Virginia.

Following a unanimous favorable School Board vote to award the contract to Hess Construction (who built the existing PWCS facility Freedom High school), PWCS News Release 162, dated 8 January 2008, stated the awarded construction contract had been settled upon at $70,700,000.

According to Prince William County Planning Commission Public Facility Review #PLN2007-00079, dated February 7, 2007, the high school's proposed capacity stands at 2,053 students.

However, as a result of foreseen overcrowding the communities were left at Unity Reed which upset many parents and students as they were being separated from friends and area neighbors.

In early 2017, pro-diversity posters by the school’s international club were taken down without explanation under the order of principal Michael Bishop.

Parents and school board members were aware that Patriot would become overcrowded quickly as a result of the fast growth in the Bristow and Gainesville areas.